One local legend left us after 86 years. Another left a football program he helped build for nearly four decades.

As the year drew to a close, Baltimore’s sports team helped close two historic stadiums.

It’s been a good year, Baltimore.

Here are the city’s top-10 stories:

1 Michael Phelps’ record-setting Olympics

Date: Aug. 10 to 17

What happened: Became the most accomplished Olympian in modern history. Phelps won eight gold medals at the Beijing Games, shattering the record seven set by swimmer Mark Spitz in 1972.

Why it makes the list: Phelps had the power to force millions to stop what they were doing and get in front of a television. He captivated a nation by thrusting swimming into the international spotlight. Now, when people talk about great athletes, they must include the native of Rodgers Forge.

2 Ravens take flight earlier than expected

Date: Sept. 7 to present

What happened: The Ravens, who analysts expected to win about four games, opened the year 2-0 and enter this afternoon’s game against Jacksonville on the verge of the playoffs after winning five games last year.

Why it makes the list: The Ravens changed their head coach and offensive coordinator and were forced to start rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who was the third-string quarterback during training camp. The team also has placed an NFL-high 18 players on injured reserve, including defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, cornerback Chris McAlister and safety Dawan Landry. Still, the Ravens had five players selected to the Pro Bowl, including second-year fullback Le’Ron McClain, and enter today’ game with a 10-5 record.

3. Orioles never get off ground

Date: March 31 to Sept. 28

What happened: Similar to the Ravens, the Orioles opened 2008 with few expectations. But unlike their neighbors at M&T Bank Stadium, the Orioles didn’t have much success, finishing 68-93.

Why it makes the list: Baltimore still is a baseball town, and its team has posted 11 straight losing seasons. The team drew fewer than two million fans to Camden Yards for the first time in the stadium’s 16-year history. The Orioles fielded an inexperienced team, but considering Colorado, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay have each made the playoffs in the past two years, the Orioles’ losing is frustrating.

4 Harbaugh hired as Ravens head coach

Date: Jan. 19

What happened: The Ravens fired head coach Brian Billick on New Year’s Eve. The team’s officials spent the next three weeks interviewing a half-dozen candidates, including offering the job to Dallas assistant Jason Garrett, who turned it down. Harbaugh was hired as the franchise’s third head coach.

Why it makes the list: The Ravens’ 10 wins are the most by a team led by a first-year coach and rookie quarterback. Harbaugh transformed a group of players who underachieved last season by winning just five games to one of the league’s best this year.

5 The death of Jim McKay

Date: June 7

What happened: McKay passed away his home in Monkton. He was 86. His life was remembered and celebrated by 200 people who attended his funeral at Cathedral of Mary Our Queen four days later.

Why it makes the list: McKay was as well known around the world as in the town where his career began. Born in Philadelphia on Sept. 24, 1921, he spent an illustrious career bringing sports into homes across the county as the host of “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” for more than 40 years, starting in 1961. His career began at WMAR-TV in Baltimore, where he was a minority owner of the Orioles.

6 March Mania hits Maryland É without Terps

Date: March 1 to April 7

What happened: Three Maryland schools — UMBC, Coppin State and Mount St. Mary’s — reached the NCAA Tournament field of 65. But the state’s marquee team –Maryland –was relegated to another trip to the National Invitation Tournament.

Why it makes the list: Brackets. They rule March. To have three local programs reach the tournament made early March an exciting time in Charm City. But it was an empty feeling, as Maryland failed to reach the tournament for the third time in four years and UMBC, Coppin State and Mount St. Mary’s each lost in the first round.

7 Baltimore turns out the lights in the Bronx, Dallas

Date: Sept. 21 and Dec. 20

What happened: Baltimore was the visiting team in the final game played at two historic sports venues: Yankee Stadium and Texas Stadium. The Orioles lost to the Yankees, 7-3, but the Ravens shocked the Cowboys, 33-24.

Why it makes the list: The final game at each stadium was watched by millions and attended by the greatest players to wear a Yankee or Cowboy uniforms. It put the Orioles and Ravens in the national spotlight.

8 Johns Hopkins makes surprise run to lacrosse final

Date: April 5 to May 26

What happened: Johns Hopkins lost a school-record five consecutive games from March 3 to April 5. But the Blue Jays rebounded by going on an eight-game winning streak, which included a 10-9 upset of top-ranked Duke in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Why it makes the list: Johns Hopkins has won its share of titles before, but it never had a season like 2008. After losing at Duke, 17-6, in the regular season, the Blue Jays reeled off wins against Maryland, Navy, Towson, Mount St. Mary’s, and Loyola to close the regular season. Johns Hopkins, however, lost to Syracuse, 13-10, preventing them from claiming a second straight title.

9 Blast win again and MISL folds

Date: April 26

What happened: The Blast entered the playoffs as an underdog, but finished the year by winning their fourth title in the past six seasons. Shortly thereafter, though, the league’s foundation crumbled, making way for a tumultuous summer that saw indoor soccer split in two different directions.

Why it makes the list: Professional sports leagues don’t disintegrate everyday. The Examiner first reported the Major Indoor Soccer League’s demise in early June. The league split into two leagues: the National Indoor Soccer League and the Xtreme Soccer League. The Blast, leading the NISL standings, still remains one of the country’s best teams.

10 Towson fires Gordy Combs

Date: Dec. 2

What happened: Combs was “relieved of his duties” as head coach after going 3-9 in his 17th season, ending his 39-year relationship with the program.

Why it makes the list: Combs was Towson football — guiding the team from Division III to Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA), and spending 17 years as head coach, 19 as an assistant and two as a player in 1971 and 1972. Combs was 92-90 as head coach.

[email protected]